The Printer Boy. Or How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark. An Example for Youth.

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Printer Boy., by William M. Thayer

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or

re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: The Printer Boy.

Or How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark. An Example for Youth.

Author: William M. Thayer

Release Date: August 13, 2008 [EBook #26295]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINTER BOY. ***

Produced by Steven Gibbs, Richard J. Shiffer and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Transcriber's Note

Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.

The

PRINTER BOY.

or

how

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

MADE HIS MARK.

An Example for Youth.

BY

WILLIAM. M. THAYER

AUTHOR OF THE BOBBIN BOY, TALES FROM THE BIBLE, ETC.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY

JULIAN PORTCH

ENGRAVED BY

BALE & HOLMAN.

LONDON

JAMES HOGG & SONS

How much did you give for your whistle!—See page 4.

PREFACE.

This book is designed to illustrate the familiar maxim, that the boy is father to the man. The early life of Franklin is sketched from his childhood to the time he was established in business, thus showing what he was in boyhood and youth; and the achievements of his manhood are summed up in a closing chapter, to substantiate the truth of the above proverb.

The author believes that the lives of distinguished men may be incorporated into a story, uniting narrative and dialogue so as to be more attractive to the young. John Bunyan was the first to adopt this style, and his inimitable Pilgrim's Progress charms the young reader, not only by its graphic imagery, but also by its alternation of narrative and dialogue. Since his day, others have adopted a similar style, particularly in works of fiction, with success. Why may not truth appear in such a dress as successfully as fiction? Why may not actual lives be presented in this manner as vividly as imaginary ones? The young mind will seize upon a truth or fact that is conveyed in a story, when it will remain wholly indifferent to it as it appears in a simple statement. So the life of an eminent man may engage the attention of this class, if he is made to speak and act for himself, when they would not be interested in it, if it were presented to them in a plain summary of facts.

In this volume, the actual, early life of Franklin is wrought into a story. The imagination has done no more than weave the facts of his boyhood and youth into a tale of real life. It makes Benjamin and his associates speak and do what biographers say they spoke and did. It simply paints the scenes and acts of which other writers have told.

A conspicuous place is given in the work to the maxims of Franklin, for the purpose of conveying important lessons in regard to the formation of character, and thus stimulating the young in the path of well-doing. Whole volumes of meaning are condensed into many of his wise and pithy sayings.

W. M. T.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE WHISTLE.

The Holiday—The Coppers in Benjamin Franklin's Pocket—Inquiry—Bounding Out—The Toy-Shop Then and Now—The Boy and his Whistle—Resolved to Purchase—The Bargain—Going Home—Making Music—Discussion about the Price—A Pocketful of Good Things—Benjamin crying over his Whistle—A Benefit—What Franklin said of it Sixty Years after—Boys do not Learn from the Past—Other Ways of paying too dear for a Whistle—Deceit and Falsehood—Tippling—Worldly Pleasure

1-8

CHAPTER II.

AT SCHOOL.

Talk about School—Brothers at Trades—Benjamin for the Church—Early learned to Read—Long Process of Preparation for the Ministry—Uncle Benjamin's Remarks and Offer—Who is Uncle Benjamin—A Hundred Years Ago—When Benjamin was Born—Baptized on Same Day he was Born—The Record—Description of his Birthplace—Early Love of Books—His Father's Violin—Poor but Industrious—Seventeen Children—Decision to Enter School—Where it was, and by Whom kept—His Rapid Progress—Mr. Franklin's Trust in Providence—At the Head of his Class—The Boy Father to the Man—Daniel Webster—David Rittenhouse and George Stephenson—Hopes of Benjamin

9-18

CHAPTER III.

A CHANGE.

Conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Franklin—Decision to Remove Benjamin from School—Trials of Ministers—Bread before Learning—Subject opened to Benjamin—His Feelings—Character of Schools then—Mr. Brownwell's Writing-school—Benjamin's Obedience—His Father Strict—Keeping the Sabbath—Lore and Respect for his Father—Rebuking the Inquisitive Landlord—Erecting Marble Stone to the Memory of his Parents—The Stone replaced by Citizens of Boston—Obedience of the Peel Boys—Harry Garland—Stephenson's Noble Act to his Parents—The Eight Brothers at Inauguration of the Franklin Statue—Progress in Penmanship—Beloved by Teacher

19-28

CHAPTER IV.

MAKING CANDLES.

Put to Candle-making at Ten Years of Age—His Father a Tallow-chandler—Benjamin opposed to it—Importance of Industry—His Father's Hive without Drones—Benjamin's Maxims about Industry in Later Life—The used key always bright.—Diligence the Mother of Good Luck—Bad Luck—Bible View—No Schooling after Ten Years of Age—Cutting Candle-wicks—Where was the Shop—Benjamin desires to go to Sea—His Mother's Veto—An Older Brother went to Sea—Talk with his Father—His Father's Veto—Promise of another Pursuit—Respect for a Paternal No—His Sports on the Water—No Prospect of Fame—Giotti Marking in the Sand—Webster's Pocket-handkerchief—Roger Sherman at his Bench—Boys not excused from School by these Examples—Benefit of a Little Knowledge—Saved Benjamin Russell in Thunder-storm—How Stephenson felt for his Son

29-43

CHAPTER V.

THE ROGUE'S WHARF.

All Abroad—The Quagmire—Proposal to build a Wharf—The Heap of Stones—Plan to steal them—Time set in the Evening—The Plan executed—The Wharf done—Keeping the Secret—Benjamin's Father finds him out—Benjamin in a tight place—Promises to do better—How the Boys were found out—Benjamin's Reading Habits—What Books liked—Mather's Essays to Do Good—Letter to Mather's Son—Boys should be at Home in Evenings—Advantage of Reading—Letter to a Girl on the Subject

44-54

CHAPTER VI.

TABLE TALK.

Interview with a Friend—His Ancestors—Their Hardships—Denied Liberty of Conscience—The Bible under the Stool—Leaving the Church of England—Emigration for Religious Freedom—Conversation on Useful Themes at Table—No Complaints allowed about Food—Guests introduced and sensible Remarks made—Effect on Benjamin—The Washburne Family—Benefit of Good Conversation—His Father's Remarks about Food—Benjamin Temperate in Eating and Drinking—The Water-American—No Temperance Societies then—Table Talk now—A Table Scene

55-63

CHAPTER VII.

CHOOSING A TRADE.

Still Opposed to Candle-making—A Dirty, Simple Business—Wants to do something that requires Ingenuity—His Father and Mother conferring together—A rolling stone gathers no moss—Afraid he will go to Sea—Benjamin's Views and Maxims—Opportunity to choose a Trade—Going to see different Trades—Devotes a Day to it—Joiners', Turners', and Bricklayers' Work—Cutlery Shop, his Cousin's—Which Trade he chose—His Father's Decision—Arrangement to learn to make Cutlery—Wise to Consult Taste and Tact of Benjamin—Handel the Musician—Sir Joshua Reynolds—Father of John Smeaton—Opposing a Child's Bent of Mind

64-75

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PRINTER-BOY.

Taken Away from Cousin Samuel—His Brother's Return from England—Setting Up the Printing Business—Proposal to Benjamin—A Long Apprenticeship—Benjamin disposed to turn Printer-boy—His Brother's Offer to Teach Him the Art of Printing—Borrowing Books to read, and sitting up at Night—Mr. Adams's Library and his Kindness—Going to it for Books—Scarcity of Books—Compared with now—Two and a half Books made in a Minute—No Libraries then—Their enormous Size now—Habit of Reading made him punctual—Example of Lord Brougham

76-84

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST LITERARY ENTERPRISE.

A Piece of Poetry—Pronounced Good—Proposition to Print his Articles—The Lighthouse Tragedy—A Sailor's Song—Printing them—Selling them in the Streets—A Successful Enterprise—His Father opposes—Condemns Poetry in general and Benjamin's in particular—A severe Rebuke—Crestfallen—Conference with James—His Father's Censure a Benefit—Practice of writing Composition excellent—How it Benefited Benjamin, even Pecuniarily—The Farmer's Son and Minister

85-92

CHAPTER X.

THE DISPUTE.

Dispute with John Collins—A Bookish Fellow—The Education of Girls—The Controversial Correspondence—His Father finds the Letters—His Criticisms—Collins versus Benjamin—Bought a Copy of the Spectator and studied it laboriously—Sorry that he did not continue to write Poetry—His Father's Counsel—His Economy of Time—A Book always by his side—His Maxims on this Subject—Violating the Sabbath to gain Time for Study—Useful Conversation and Talking Nonsense—Hundreds ruined by a similar cause—Walter Scott hiding Novels from his Father—Pope going to the Theatre—Exceptions to the General Rule

93-103

CHAPTER XI.

PLAIN FARE.

Proposition to board Himself—Became a Vegetarian by Reading Tryon's Book—Why he did it—How much Money he saved by doing it—Spent it for Books—How much Time saved also—Cocker's Arithmetic—Other Books read at odd moments—His Plan to save Time—His Maxims on saving Time—Aim to be Useful—The English Grammar—Shaftesbury's Works—Benjamin a Doubter—Makes known his Doubts to Collins—Danger of Reading Attacks upon the Gospel

104-113

CHAPTER XII.

THE NEWSPAPER.

Starting the Third Newspaper in America—Opposition to it—Number of Newspapers now—Forty Million Sheets from Eight Presses—Seventy-one Miles a day of Newspapers from One Office—Almost enough to reach around the Earth in a Year—Weigh these Papers—Four Million Pounds in a Year—Two Thousand Two-Horse Loads—The New England Courant started—Printer, News-carrier, and Collector—The Club—Incited to write an Article—Tucks it under Printing-office Door—Hears it favourably commented on—Writes other Articles—This an Incident that decides his Career—Canning at Eton and the Microcosm—Similar Paper in Seminaries now

114-122

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

Eager to Own the Pieces—Discloses the Authorship to James—Interview with the Club—Surprise that Benjamin wrote them—Treated with Attention by the Club—Oppressed by James—Trouble with him—Benjamin resolves to leave him—The Printing-office furnishes many Scholars—A New England Divine—Benjamin directed in the Path to which his Native Endowments pointed—So of Lord Nelson—Anecdote of him—Buxton, Wilberforce, and Others—Example of the Author of the Optic Library

123-129

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARREST.

Action of General Court to Arrest James Franklin for Libel—The Legislative Order—James imprisoned four weeks, and Benjamin arrested, but discharged—The immediate Cause of the Arrest—Meeting of the Club—Decision to publish the Paper in Benjamin's Name—Shrewd Evasion—Youngest Conductor of a Paper who ever lived—His Thrusts at the Government—Benjamin born in troublous Times—Attacks and Massacres by the Savages—Prepared thereby to act in achieving Independence—Bears in Boston

130-136

CHAPTER XV.

THE RUNAWAY.

A Quarrel—Asserting his Freedom—Statement of the Case—Appeal to his Father—His Father's Decision—Leaves his Brother—Fails to get Work—Charged with being an Infidel—Plans to run away—Conference with Collins—His Plan to get away—Collins's Talk with the Captain of a New York Sloop, and his Base Lie—Benjamin Boards the Sloop—Arrival in New York—His lonely Condition—Guilt of a Runaway—Quarrel between Brothers painful—Case of William Hutton—Lines of Dr. Watts

137-147

CHAPTER XVI.

ANOTHER TRIP AND ITS TRIALS.

Calls on Printer Bradford in New York—No Work—Recommended to go to Philadelphia—Arranges for the Trip—Starts for Philadelphia—The Drunken Dutchman—His wet Volume and Bottle—Struck by a Squall—A sad Night off Long Island—Benjamin's Feelings—The next morning—Storm subsides—Next night on shore—Advantage of a little Reading—Boys lose nothing by spending leisure Hours in Reading—The Young Man in Maine—Discipline of the Mind—Case of Gibbon—What Boys say—Sir Walter Scott in Boyhood, and his warning Words—Benjamin leaving Amboy—Fifty Miles on Foot—Suspected of being a Runaway—Reaches the Quack Doctor's Tavern—Arrival at Burlington—The Gingerbread Woman—The Boat gone—Going back to the Gingerbread Woman—His Walk—The unexpected Boat and his Passage—In Cooper's Creek at Midnight—Reached Philadelphia on Sunday Morning—The Shilling—The Boy and his Loaf—Going up Market Street with a Baker's Loaf under each Arm—Miss Read—Asleep in a Quaker Church—Suspected again of being a Runaway—First Night in Philadelphia

148-166

CHAPTER XVII.

GETTING WORK.

Call upon Andrew Bradford—His Surprise—Disappointment—Directed to Keimer—The Interview—Advantage of Thoroughness—Benjamin did things well—Bradford's Talk with Keimer—Keimer ensnared—Benjamin makes a Disclosure—Keimer astonished—Repairing a Printing-press—At work for Keimer—Goes to Board at Mr. Read's—His Power of Observation—Stephenson like him—William Hutton again and his Dulcimer—Perseverance—Not proud—How many Boys would have done—Maxims

167-175

CHAPTER XVIII.

NEWS FROM HOME, AND RETURN.

The Unexpected Letter—Benjamin's Reply—Governor Keith calls to see him—Surprise of Keimer—Invites him to the Tavern—Advises him to set up Business for Himself—Benjamin's Objections overruled—Decides to return to Boston to ask his Father's Assistance—How the Governor learned of Benjamin—His Return to Boston—Joy at Home—His gentlemanly appearance—Goes to his Brother's Printing-office—Cold Reception—Interview with the Workmen—Exhibition of his Silver Coin—His Watch—The Dollar Treat—James incensed—Interview with his Mother—Stating Business to his Father, and giving him the Governor's Letter—His Father's Talk with Captain Homes—His Father's Denial—Collins returns with him

176-178

CHAPTER XIX.

BACK AGAIN.

Sails for New York—Stops at Newport and visits his Brother—The New Passengers—The Old Quaker Lady's Attention—A Narrow Escape—Arrival in New York—Collins there first and intoxicated—Makes a Confession to Benjamin—Owns that he gambles—Loses all his Money—Message from Governor Burnet—Benjamin goes to see him—Trip to Philadelphia—Collects Vernon's Debt—Takes Collins to board with him—Throws Collins into the River Delaware—The Fate of Collins—Interview with Governor Keith—The Governor promises to set him up in Business.

188-195

CHAPTER XX.

A LITERARY GAME.

The Three Associates—Their Characters—Discussion about Poets and Poetry—A Proposition to Paraphrase the Eighteenth Psalm—Osborne's Prejudice, and how to prove him—Benjamin reads Ralph's Piece as his own—The Success of the Ruse—Subsequent Interview of Benjamin and Ralph—Their Delight over the Result—The Exposure of Osborne at the next Meeting—His Mortification—Fate of Watson and Osborne—Advantage of such Literary Clubs

196-203

CHAPTER XXI.

GOING TO ENGLAND.

Interview with Governor Keith—Arrangements to go to England in the Annis—Only one vessel a year to sail—Still works for Keimer—The latter a singular Man—Experiment of a Vegetable Diet—Keimer's Abhorrence of it—Eats the whole of a Pig at last—How Benjamin came to relinquish a Vegetable Diet—Courting Miss Read—Her Mother objects to Engagement—Ralph resolves to go with him—Four or Five Printing-offices then, and Two or Three Thousand now—The Governor's Letters—Set Sail—Arrival in London—Discovers that his Letters are Worthless—The Governor a Deceiver—Tells his Story to Denham—Goes to Work in a Printing-office—An Advantage of written Composition—His Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain—Won him Fame—Bargain with a Bookseller—Beer-drinking in the Office—Benjamin's Opposition to it—He wrought a Reform—His Firmness and Independence—Swimming—Drawn a Mile by his Kite on the Water—Advised to open a Swimming-School—Decides on Returning to America—A Scene forty years after

204-219

CHAPTER XXII.

FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.

Arrival in Philadelphia—Calls on Keimer—Meets Governor Keith in the Street—Interview with Miss Read—His want of Fidelity—Denham opened a Store, and Benjamin was his Clerk—The Sickness of both—Denham dies—Benjamin thrown out of Business—Returns to his Trade, and works for Keimer—Legacy from Denham—His Fidelity always pleased his Employers—Many Youth do not care for the Employer's Success—Fidelity one Secret of Benjamin's Success—The Oxford Student—Dangers of Theatrical Amusements and Bad Company—Trouble with Keimer—Refuses to work for him—Arrangements to go into Business with Meredith

220-229

CHAPTER XXIII.

SETTING UP BUSINESS.

The Inventory—Keimer's Message—At Burlington—Friends made there—Interview with the Surveyor-general—Opening his Office—Samuel Mickle—His Croaking—The Result—Poetical Notice in the Printing-office—His Resolution in the Outset—His Industry—Prophecies about Failure—The Every-Night Club—The Lounger rebuked—Franklin never above his Business—Case of Judge Marshall—Economy— How he began to Keep House—Maxims—Integrity—The Slanderer turned away—Socrates and Archelaus—Business prosperous—Hopes and Fears—Coleman and Grace, and their Offer—Talk with Meredith, and the Latter leaves

230-243

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE JUNTO.

A Literary Club—What Franklin said of it—A New Proposition for a Library—Scarcity of Books—Franklin the Father of Circulating Libraries—Size of the First Library now—Questions asked by the Junto—Their Practical Character—Questions Discussed—Members limited to Twelve—No Improvement on the Junto—Franklin's Hand seen in it—All but one or two Members became Respectable, and most of them distinguished Men—Studying French, Italian, and Spanish—Playing Chess—Studying Latin—The Junto Copied in England—Canning—Franklin begins to think more of Religion—Doubting his Doubts—A Minister calls upon him—Goes to Meeting—The Fatal Sermon—Power of Conscience—Prays, and his Form of Prayer—His Book of Goodness—Rules of Conduct, and what they show

244-253

CHAPTER XXV.

CONCLUSION.

The Printer Boy and Man—His Brother reconciled to him—Rears his Nephew—Holds important Offices—Refuses Patent of a Stove—Gift to English Clergyman—Improves Street Lamps—Forms Fire-Company—Organizes Militia—A Schedule of the Offices he filled and the Honours he Won—Honoured in France, and all Europe—Societies and Towns named after him—A Library Presented to the Town of Franklin, Mass.—His Remark about more Sense than Sound—Washington's Praise of him—Action of Congress—Demonstrations of Respect in France—A Benjamin truly, and not a Ben-Oni—Regretting his early disregard of Religion—His Benevolence—Emptied his Pockets for Whitefield—His Humanity, and Words of a Biographer—His Reverence for God in High Places—Proposed the First Fast—Advocates Prayers in the National Convention—The Young Man at his Death-bed—His Last Words for the Bible

254-264

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE PRINTER-BOY.

CHAPTER I.

THE WHISTLE.

It was a bright, welcome holiday to little Benjamin Franklin, when his kind parents put some coppers into his pocket, to spend as he saw fit. Possibly it was the first time he was ever permitted to go out alone into the streets of Boston with money to spend for his own pleasure; for he was now but seven years old.

Can I have more coppers when these are gone? he inquired.

No, replied his mother, you have quite as many now as will be for your welfare, I think. You must be a good boy, and keep out of mischief.

What are you going to buy? asked an older brother; and without waiting for a reply, he answered the question himself, by saying, Candy, of course.

Lay out your money wisely, added his mother; I shall want to see how much wisdom you display in your purchases. Remember 'all is not gold that glitters.'

His mother had scarcely ceased speaking, when Benjamin bounded out of the house, eager to enjoy the anticipated pleasures of the day. Like other boys, on such occasions, his head was filled with bewitching fancies, and he evidently expected such a day of joy as he never had before. First in his thoughts stood the toy-shop, into the windows of which he had often looked wistfully, although it was a small affair compared with the Boston toy-shops of the present day. Every article in it could have been examined in one or two hours, while now it would take as many days to view all the articles in one of these curiosity-shops. It is almost wonderful, and even fabulous, this multiplication of playthings for the children. There seems to be no end to them, and many a girl and boy have been put to their wits' end to know what to choose out of the thousands of articles arranged on the shelves.

Benjamin had not proceeded far before he met a boy blowing away upon, a new-bought whistle, as if its music were sweeter than the voice of lark or nightingale. He could scarcely help envying him the happiness of owning so valuable a treasure. He stopped and looked at him with an expression of delight, and they exchanged glances that showed a genuine sympathy springing up between them. At once he resolved to possess a similar musical instrument, as I suppose it may be called; and away he hastened to the toy-shop, knowing that it must have been purchased there.

Any whistles?